4 jumps meetings today

Plenty of jumps action today but again, very little in the way of quality. The day´s best race is the Grand Military Gold Cup over 3 miles for past and present members of the armed forces at 16.30 CET at Sandown. This once prestigious event, which used to be the favourite race of the late Queen Mum, is now little better than a hunter chase and today´s edition is virtually a rerun of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, run over the same CD 3 weeks ago.

On that occasion Surenaga (Sally Randell) ran on well to score from Blu Teen (D. Staddon/ Jody Sole), woth Knighton Combe (Jamie Snowden/ Lucy Horner) 3rd, Scots Dragoon (Nicky Henderson/ Major Michael) 4th and Mr. Big (Chaarlie Mann/ Ollie Elwood) fifth. However the weights are significantly different this time, and we do not expect Surenaga to repeat that win on these terms. Scots Dragoon, a course specialist who won this race last year. will probably run much better this time, but our tip is Ice Tea (Mrs. McCain/ Lucy Gardner) who stays well and is best in at the weights.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Posh Emily - Olympian - Vertueux
2. Race: Marodima - Vinmix De Bessy - Owner Occupier
3. Race: Cois Farraig - Surenaga - Blu Teen
4. Race: Henry Hook - Sinbad The Sailor - Havingotascoobydo
5. Race: Turko - Mister Apple`S - Ultimate Limit
6. Race: Rebel Rebellion - Our Mick - Taoiri




With half the card at Sandown restricted to amateur riders, most of the leading professionals are at Wincanton, where we expect Tony McCoy to win the mares novice hurdle at 15.00 on Nicky Henderson´s Kells Belle and the novice hurdle at 16.45 on the same trainer´s Thanks for Coming. Paul Nicholls who always does well at his local track, saddles an interesting German-bred runner in the bumper at 18.30 with Suspect (Ryan Mahon). He was beaten 80 lengths on his debut, but is certainly capable of much better things and is probably the bst pedigree in the field, being closely related to Shirocco.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Kells Belle - Chilli Rose - Violin Davis
2. Race: Whispering Jack - Restart - Perkin Warbeck
3. Race: Noble Bily - Choumakeur - De Bansha Man
4. Race: Thanks For Coming - Bold Addition - Sizing Santiago
5. Race: Senses - Golden Games - Special Cuvee
6. Race: Jayne`S Crusader - Oracle Des Mottes - Master John
7. Race: Sizing India - Suspect - Buddy Bolero




Another German-bred we expect to run better today is Soprano (Jim Goldie/Graham Lee) who has top weight in the handicap hurdle at 16.55 at Ayr. Last time he finished well behind Vallani (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) but meets that one on much better terms and looks a good each-way bet. Irish raiders are always to be feared here and we would not be surprised to see James Lambe and his jockey Robert Colgan land a double with Drumbaloo at 15.10 and Kingsmoss at 15.45.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Drumbaloo - Realt Mor - Rathnaroughy
2. Race: Cool Mission - Steady Tiger - Kingsmoss
3. Race: Beverly Hill Billy - King`S Chorister - Lewlaur Supreme
4. Race: Sundown Trail - Vallani - Bubbly Breeze
5. Race: See The Legend - Miss Abbey - Lahib The Fifth
6. Race: Lampion Du Bost - Garleton - Leac An Scail
7. Race: Innominate - Soul Angel - King Penda




At Leicester we hope to see course specialist Phar Again (Charlotte Dyson/ Tom Phelan) take the handicap chase at 17.15. All his 3 career wins have been here and he was just touched off last time; while he has been racing mainly at shorter distances, he also gets today´s trip of almost 3 miles. He could well complete an across-the-card double for his trainer, as her German-bred Cortinas has a chance of winning the handicap chase at 15.55 at Sandown with Ian Popham in the saddle.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Olympian Boy - Nous Voila - Red Law
2. Race: Swansbrook - Khorun - Society Fashion
3. Race: Mr Bond - Ponchatrain - Bohemian Rock
4. Race: Phar Again - Willandrich - Woodmore
5. Race: Courella - Double The Trouble - Bradford Boris
6. Race: Takeroc - Fairwood Present - Muhtenbar